"EFFECT OF PROGESTOGEN-ONLY CONTRACEPTIVES ON HUMAN MILK COMPOSITION"

Abstract

Different contraceptive methods are used by breastfeeding mothers. To investigate the effects of progestogen - only contraceptives on human milk components, a non-randomized, follow-up study was carried out in Iran (Varamin) on 140 breastfeeding women, 51 of whom used progestogenonly contraception including progestogen-only pills (POP) or depo-medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA), and 89 used non-hormonal contraception methods, starting at 6 weeks after delivery. Human milk components were compared between the groups after 26 weeks. There were no statistically significant differences between groups, in terms of protein, sodium, calcium, phosphorus and potassium concentration of milk, but triglycerides in the hormonal group and magnesium in the non-hormonal group were higher than the other group (P< 0.05). It seems that progestogen-only methods (POP and DMPA) do not have an adverse effect on human milk composition, and are safe contraceptives during lactation.